Newsline: Malawi Staff At Zimbabwe Embassy Complain of Abuses

Malawi staff at the Zimbabwe foreign mission in Lilongwe are complaining of serious abuses by the embassy diplomats including non- payment of their monthly salary on time. In an anonymous letter, the workers have since asked the Malawi government to conduct an investigation into the matter. They say they struggle to get their monthly salary and that the embassy owes them money in arrears since December 2015 but they are not allowed to speak out on the issue as they are threatened with dismissals. The staff say they feel abused and neglected. Officials from the embassy, headed by Ms Thandiwe Dumbutshena refused to comment on the matter. However, Malawi Foreign Affairs spokesperson Rejoice Shumba said the ministry has received a copy of the letter. He however said embassies have their own standing labour laws which would make it difficult for the government of Malawi to intervene.